 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Siyithemba ‘Healthy schools, Healthy Youth’ youth workers are based in ‘under performing’ schools earmarked by the department of education on a full-time basis and assist the schools in putting systems in place to improve their infrastructure & academic results, working alongside the school communities in order to do so. Based on the needs of the individual schools, these Youth Workers run life skills education with the aim of empowering the youth to make informed decisions about life, reproductive health & sexuality issues as well as a strong support to the principal & teachers.
ACTIVE YOUTH (Aids Conscious Teens Initiating Values-based Education) Peer Education program. YFC mobilises young people to form support groups/clubs and the leaders of these are trained as peer educators to effectively reach their peers about living out positive values. Once trained they are assisted to form and run programs to address the pressing issues facing young people, with a specific focus on HIV/aids. This is achieved with the on-going support of a coach (YFC Worker).
Edutainment teams - Using a combination of drama, music, dance and discussions, teams from YFC do presentations in high school auditoriums, classrooms and informally during breaks and free time. The goal is for the team to attract young people through the ‘entertainment’ and use it as a platform to address relevant issues.
These programs seek to address the needs of young women and empower young men on gender empowerment education. Topics covered include gender awareness, self esteem, teenage sexuality. Although gender awareness is a necessary thread that runs through most of our programmes, YFC has 2 specific gender projects:
OPTIONS pregnancy centres are counseling centres for women & their families experiencing a crisis pregnancy. Some centres also specialize in offering counseling to clients undergoing HIV/aids testing, and other trauma. YFC is involved in pre & post abortion counseling, young women between the ages of 14 & 25 are served, with the majority being school students.
Phakama, run by our KZN office aims to provide holistic development in young people by enabling them to discover their uniqueness & better understand gender issues, in order to facilitate gender equality.
YFC seeks to respond to the challenge of HIV/AIDS through every one of its programmes. More than half of new infections occur in people between the ages of 15 to 24. This highlights the need to have effective prevention programs such as life skills, from a very young age. Postponing the first time of intercourse plays a significant role.
We are running an extensive Abstinance program in schools. One of the key aspects of our work in teaching about HIV/AIDS is using interactive methods of giving information to encourage young people to abstain from sexual intercourse. Our Edutainment Teams who run four day HIV/ AIDS workshops in schools, work alongside facilitators and create a block of time when this issue can be addressed in a creative way, with time to process issues.
Our Johannesburg branch has a home - Rethabile Village specifically for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
Homeless Children Project
YFC has conducted extensive work with homeless children for many years. Childcare workers build relationships with the children living on the streets and then encourage them to visit the YFC Drop-in centres, where relationships and trust grow stronger. These centres provide for the children’s basic needs, such as food, clothing, sanitation, recreation and some lifeskills training. Many children have either been returned home to their families or have been placed in alternative care. From this level many are moved into shelters where available, providing them with a home environment and from there are integrated into the education system.
International Volunteer Programme
YFC’s international volunteer programme is strong and growing. Young internationals spend anything between 3 and 18 months working in one of YFC’s projects. These young people receive orientation and training around South African issues and are then able to use their skills to serve alongside South African staff, in meeting the needs of the young people in our projects. YFC South Africa has hosted volunteers from Europe, Mauritius, Malawi and USA who added value as they spent time working in our projects. If you’re interested in volunteering, plse click on this link
The goal is to overcome the common situation of “I can’t find a job because I have no experience and I can’t get experience because I have no job.”
Unemployed young people receive training while serving in YFC projects, where they are able to learn and apply skills, and gain valuable work experience.
We have seen how this training builds confidence in the young people which is a great advantage to them believing in themselves & has aided many in finding employment with the additional experience gained.
International teams known as iThemba are made up of 7 young volunteers of mixed race & gender who are trained to present the story of SA – a message of racial reconciliation & hope – through dance and drama to an international audience. After their training, they spend 9 months oversees in schools, churches, youth camps & other events. iThemba is a zulu word meaning ‘hope’. This year we have 7 teams spread among Germany, Spain, Los Angeles, Central and Eastern States.
In Johannesburg Siyavuselela presents lifeskills to juveniles awaiting trial. The goal is to instill positive values in the young people and show them alternatives to a life of crime.
YFC staff follow-up with the juveniles & their families to assist & monitor their re-integration into society. An extension to this programme was launched in 2003 “khululeka diversion”. Khululeka targets ‘at risk’ youth still attending school who are referred to us by the courts to take them through a residential programme, teaching positive lifeskills. The aim is encourage them away from a lifestyle which could find them in conflict with the law.
Intermediary Services
A project of YFCJHB Launched in 2003, YFC staff serve as intermediaries for child witnesses/victims of abuse who must appear in court. The intermediaries assess the witnesses and translate the court jargon into language the child can understand. Since its inception we have seen the conviction rates increasing.
YFC has conducted extensive work with homeless children for many years. Childcare workers build relationships with children living on the streets and then encourage them to visit a Drop-In centre where relationships & trust grow stronger. These centres provide for the children’s basic needs, such as food, clothing, sanitation, recreation & some lifeskills training.
From this level many are moved into shelters where available, providing them with a secure home environment, while childcare & social workers start the process of reintegrating them with their families.
YFC has 3 training centres to accommodate camping & conferencing:
YFC Magaliesburg
Tel: 014 5762131
Located in the Hekpoort valley this campsite can host upto 850 people.
Zakheni
Tel: 011 857 2800
Situated in Lenasia, just south of Johannesburg can host smaller groups of upto 100. It has an on-site Bekezela Village used for teambuilding.
L’Abri Wilderness Training School
Tel: 033 3452970
L’abri, situated on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg surrounded by beautiful forestry, focuses on indoor & outdoor learning experiences.
